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GPS on Buses Trending Globally

June 6th, 2013

With many thanks to recent developments in technology, public transit systems around the world are finding it beneficial and profitable to install GPS tracking devices on their buses.

These devices have a fairly simple purpose, though it manifests itself in multiple facets. After a GPS tracking device is installed upon a bus or other public transit vehicle, the device links up to an online website which keeps updated track of the vehicle. Passengers can then find updates on bus schedules and route changes online. Some of the tracking sites even offer the feature of SMS text updates to be sent to passengers’ mobile phones.

Many countries have begun to implement the GPS tracking systems on their public transit vehicles and most of these have had very positive and profitable results. Schedule changes and route re-workings are not nearly so irritating to passengers who have the available option of going online to check the route and schedule of their bus of choice. Drivers are held more tightly accountable to their duties and responsibilities by monitoring and tracking. The listed benefits are obviously laudable.

Multiple cities in the United States have begun to utilize GPS tracking devices in their public transit systems. Cities in Louisiana, Oklahoma, California, Ohio, and other states have installed these GPS systems and found the results to be quite excellent.

Canada and the United Kingdom have also had good experiences with their first runs of transit GPS tracking devices. With systems being used on buses in Ottawa and London, passengers in both countries have had time to give the system a good trial run. Talks are still ongoing as to whether more transit systems in other cities should have GPS tracking devices installed on their vehicles.

Of all the countries to try this new application of GPS technology, India has felt the benefit from its installation perhaps most acutely. Using the technology not only to give passengers more accurate route updates and arrival and departure times, Indian transit systems have found applications for the technology in monitoring potential thieves and other persons who would harass tourists or regular passengers on their buses. Ensuring the safety of their passengers is top priority.

Whether it be for scheduling accuracy, route updates, driver or unruly pedestrian monitoring, GPS tracking technology may soon be commonplace throughout public transportation, here at home and around the globe.

GPS and Public Transportation: What’s the Next Step?

June 4th, 2013

The goal of public transportation is to get you where you need to go. That may read like a ludicrously simple definition. It is, however, a goal often lost as the logistics and burdens of providing that transportation overwhelm those who are challenged with bringing it to the people.

Let’s use the city of New York as an example. In terms of public transportation, it is easily the most impressive city in the United States, and likely one of the most impressive in the world. NYC contains a spectacularly intricate array of subways and subway tunnels poring through the city like veins. Those subways are the lifeblood of the city.

Even more impressive is that all New York City subways offer free WiFi. This is an essential for getting around the city easily. In this brave new digital world, maps have gone the way of the dodo, and getting around via GPS is the way to go. But is it possible to create a vast public transportation network that works everywhere, all the time?

Underground GPS Signals?

The biggest problem with Global Positioning Systems is concrete. In New York City subways, there is a lot of it: So much of the train network is underground that GPS signals cannot penetrate. But WiFi can. As smartphones become more prominent, it will be even more important for GPS and WiFi signals to interact seamlessly and successfully, ensuring that commuters and travelers have a seamless experience when using public transportation–whether it’s on the bus or on the subway. In short, if the WiFi works, the GPS should work.

Public Transportation and Smart Phones

For better or worse, the world is getting where it needs to go via cell phone. Google Maps is fantastic if you drive your own car; not so much if you’re on a bus or subway train. While various cities and transport systems like Greyhound have created proprietary apps, no one has gone the extra step of creating an all-encompassing smartphone experience that amalgamates that data with GPS. Shouldn’t your GPS navigation device tell you, for instance, if you’ve gotten on the wrong subway train and are going to the wrong destination? Shouldn’t your phone’s GPS tell you how to switch up your bus route if the bus you’re on is running late? Brilliant programmers and GPS device designers are working through these problems–but a universal solution for public transportation via smart phone has yet to emerge. Whatever results may make GPS an even greater tool for getting where we need to go.

Tracking Buses via GPS Technology

April 15th, 2013

When will the bus get here? Tracking buses via GPS technology may make that question a thing of the past. In an effort to improve their service and increase the number of riders, Capital Area Transit System (CATS) in East Baton Rouge has made a number of upgrades to their buses. The most significant is the addition of GPS tracking devices.

What It Does for Passengers

With this new technology, riders will be able to use their smartphones to determine within fifteen seconds the time when a bus will arrive at a given stop. For those without smartphones, CATS plans to add a feature that will enable the individual to text a number and receive an immediate message with the expected arrival time of their bus. Screens in the main bus station, and eventually in other terminals, will imitate those of airports by displaying departure and arrival times for each route. There will also be digital signs to inform waiting riders of the number of minutes before the next bus arrives. All these features combine to eliminate the most prevalent reason for low use of public transportation: its unpredictability. CATS hopes that providing this knowledge will encourage more potential riders to use the transit system.

What It Does for the Transit System

In addition to the obvious benefit of increased ridership, tracking buses via GPS technology can assist the transit system in a number of other ways. Knowing the exact locations of the buses gives dispatchers the information they need to make adjustments if a particular bus is running behind schedule. The software that CATS is utilizing allows them to automate the majority of their operations, including data collection and scheduling. This software is provided by RouteMatch, a company that administers this service for more than 550 transit systems throughout the lower 48 states. A company spokesman attests that transportation organizations making use of the software typically see a significant increase both in rider satisfaction and in number of riders.

With all of these benefits, it is likely that this type of equipment will soon become a standard feature as transit companies upgrade their vehicles. The accurate intelligence that tracking buses via GPS technology can provide is information that riders will quickly come to expect and even demand.

Raising the Standard: GPS for City Buses

April 13th, 2013

In Baton Rouge, LA, the Capital Area Transit System (CATS) recently implemented a GPS tracking system on their fleet of public transportation vehicles.

The Capital Area Transit System has long been a leader in public transportation technology implementation and application. Buses in the Baton Rouge area already have audio and video technologies installed. LED displays show passengers approaching destinations and intersections, and automated announcements convey news of approaching destinations and arrivals to passengers. Digital passenger counters are an included feature on the Baton Rouge CATS buses.

A newer feature available for riders of the bus in Baton Rouge is a GPS tracking system-enabled text or smartphone app notification with news of route conditions, delays, and arrival times.

Through either a smartphone app (available for iPhone, Android, or any phone which has internet access capabilities) or subscription to text message updates, courtesy of CATS, riders of the Baton Rouge public bus system can enjoy the benefits of the new GPS, tracking route delays and estimating arrival times. With the new GPS units, planning ahead for catching a bus is quite feasible and avoiding needlessly lengthy waiting periods between buses has been downsized considerably thanks to the newly installed GPS devices. Riders can also subscribe to specific routes and are notified of any delays or changes made to their chosen routes.

Whereas in the past riders of public transit buses would have to perform something of a guessing game with the buses and their schedules, riders can now depend on the GPS tracking units and their correlating apps or text messaging systems to report more accurate arrival times and route delays.

The terminal on Florida Boulevard has been given an upgrade as well; digital signs with closely estimated wait times are displayed for waiting passengers along with LCD monitors which appear very similar in design and function to airport departure and arrival time readers.

Because of the GPS tracking units placed within the city’s buses, Baton Rouge has been able to begin cutting down its bus waiting times as promised to citizens last year when a proposed property tax increase of $10.7 million was voted upon and accepted by residents of Baton Rouge. As other cities learn of Baton Rouge’s innovative decisions, perhaps a game of follow the leader will begin and we can observe improvements occurring in cities all over the country.

GPS Tracking Devices Increase City Bus Route Efficiency

February 14th, 2013

Public transportation providers in many cities are utilizing GPS tracking technology to improve service and efficiency on their routes. Community Transit, which operates in the greater Seattle, WA area is transitioning to this system at a cost of approximately $10 million dollars. GPS tracking poses many advantages such as improved communication to dispatchers, the capability of passengers to access scheduling changes and arrival times and better efficiency in managing fuel costs and equipment maintenance, to name a few.

Better Communication

Communications between buses and dispatchers have previously been limited to radio; however, by using GPS equipment a dispatcher has immediate information on a computer screen showing a bus’ location or traffic conditions like accidents or roadwork so the driver can get fast feedback. Optimizing scheduling is another plus: if a bus is running ahead of or behind schedule, the dispatcher can instruct the driver to pace the speed accordingly, thereby increasing efficiency and maintaining customer satisfaction.

“Real-time” Information for Patrons

In cities wherein transit systems use GPS tracking, passengers may access “real-time” information for their routes by subscribing to an electronic alert system through which they receive emails and texts in advance if a bus is out of service or if there are circumstances which affect several routes. Passengers may also send emails or call to ask where a bus is or what time it will arrive at a stop. Interactivity between patrons and bus systems can actually increase the usage of public transit. If commuters can verify that a bus is on schedule via website or cell phone, they are more likely to ride than they are to drive themselves or take a cab.

Cost and Time Efficiency

GPS tracking has the potential of creating greater efficiency by managing fuel costs, reducing idle time, monitoring mileage and maintenance scheduling, plus other convenient features depending upon the equipment used. Fuel costs are minimized by determining the most efficient routes for buses. Overall, fuel is also saved when more patrons choose to take the bus, a situation which is much more likely if passengers trust the reliability of the transit system.

Equipment Options

Several equipment options are currently available for use in transit systems for GPS tracking. One, the Shadow Tracker Vision II, claiming to be the least expensive real-time tracking system on the market, provides updates in ten-second intervals. Its Plus model adds event monitoring and control output capabilities. The Teswell TS-210 is touted for its drive record, video surveillance and Google map. Some systems also customize routes and track time sheets. Marketing companies now offer to match transit systems with equipment that is most appropriate to their needs.

Tennessee Considers GPS for School Buses

November 12th, 2012

When you think about it, school bus drivers are key players when it comes to the safety of our children. Once or twice every weekday, they take kids on the road to and from school in a large vehicle that is surprisingly difficult to operate safely. In Tennessee, buses are not required to have seat belts, so if an accident does occur, the danger to children is much higher than if they had been in a family vehicle. A recent crash in Washington County, Tennessee has officials looking into the possibility of using GPS devices to reduce the chances of similar disasters in the future.

A thorough investigation showed that the bus was working properly, ruling out mechanical problems as a cause of the crash. It appears that the driver was simply practicing unsafe driving habits, leading to an accident that injured 27 young people. Of course, it is impossible to know whether seat belts would have been able to prevent some of those injuries, but it is unlikely, since the bus rolled after it swerved off the road. A better prevention measure would have been the ability to spot the driver’s bad driving and address it before an accident could happen. That’s just the kind of alert that GPS monitoring can provide.

Commercial fleet operators use GPS monitoring to send back alarms when their drivers exceed speed limits, brake too hard and too often, and veer off their established routes. This is just what supervisors would like to find out about their school bus drivers in order to make sure that they are driving carefully with kids on board. If a driver knows that someone other than the children on the bus is keeping an eye on them, he or she will be less likely to take chances.

As the county looks into its options, GPS monitoring offers a lot of benefits that would not come with other solutions like seat belts. Supervisors of school bus fleets are currently in a tricky situation: the only witnesses to poor driving are usually children who don’t know how to drive, and if a complaint does arise from them, it is extremely difficult to prove. GPS may be the key to keeping drivers accountable the entire time they’re on the road.

Massachusetts Towns Studying Public Transportation Routes With GPS to Increase Efficiency

July 24th, 2012

Five towns in Massachusetts are hoping to more efficiently provide public transportation to its people with a little help from GPS devices. The devices have been installed in their public transportation vehicles in order to find out who is riding and where they are headed, culminating in the merging of services next year based on the data collected.

A state grant to the tune of $185,000 was given to the towns of Acton, Boxborough, Littleton, Maynard, and Stow to affix the GPS devices and conduct the study. Officials feel their transportation services – geared toward the senior citizen segment of the population – often run into the situation of nearly-empty vans ending up at the same place at the same time. “What we’re hoping for, by combining these all together, is to have more locations where we can bring people and better accessibility,” said Acton’s health director Doug Halley, who happens to be leading the study.

The GPS devices will collect data from July to the end of September, at which point officials will come up with a plan to combine transportation services. It is Halley’s hope the shared busing will start by July 1 of 2013. The Clock Tower Place, an office park in Maynard which offers transportation to its’ employees, is also participating in the study.

“By having the GPS information, we’ll be able to compile a lot more data on what kind of overlap there is now,” said Keith Bergman, Littleton Town Administrator. “We’d like to move from the anecdotal to the analytical. The solution is going to require specific information about how many trips are we running, how many people are on them, where are they, when are they – that data will be vital to finding a better way to provide the service.”

This isn’t at all about money as some readers may suspect, it’s more about increased efficiency and no additional funds needed from the town – working with what they are already allotted in their transportation budget and no more. “It’s not a case of money,” according to Maynard’s town administrator Michael Sullivan. “It’s how we’re spending the money.” Sullivan sees the less populated western area of Massachusetts offering more transportation options as compared to Maynard, and said, “Coming from a region that is much less dense but has solved this riddle, I don’t see why we can’t.”

Halley said that besides sharing drivers and vehicles, towns will probably have a centralized dispatch service as well. As it is now, if a senior citizen needs a ride, they must put in a request anywhere from 24 to 48 hours in advance. “We would have a system that would be responsive immediately to people’s needs,” Halley said.

He added that consolidation is key, giving transportation services to sectors of the population that didn’t have it before. Acton is already doing this, providing transportation for the city’s children to recreation areas, but he said that the service is usually overbooked. “We have to say no to some of those people because they’re coming at different times from different locations,” said Halley. He feels the solution to this problem is consolidation of services with the other towns, which would add more vehicles to the fleet without purchasing a bus or van.

There are those who feel this GPS study will have negative effects on the senior citizen population. Alyson Toole is the executive director of the Council on Aging in Stow, and she feels the seniors will be spending too much time on the vans as it will be making more stops to pick up and drop off more passengers. She also points out that this van sharing could make it more difficult for the seniors to develop relationships with the drivers, as is currently the case. “The van driver really gets to know the seniors and their particular needs,” she said. “They become almost extra eyes and ears for the outreach. I’m willing to look into it. There’s pros and cons to everything. Just right now I haven’t seen the benefits as much.”

Sharon Mercurio agrees, director of the Acton Council on Aging. “If more school-aged children are using it after school, what about the senior that this is their only way to get to a doctor’s appointment,” she said. “It’s just those kinks that we’re going to have to work out.”

Halley said that the towns will work with different senior groups to assure their satisfaction in the service. “The goal of this is not to take away from the Councils on Aging, but to give more to them,” he said.

GPS Helps Track Bus Arrivals

July 9th, 2012

Buses with GPS are making traveling more efficient for everyone. There are many cities that rely heavily on public transportation because of high population. In these cities, tight schedules are common, so efficiency is key.

Most people, without a doubt, prefer to use their own car. Owning a car has many advantages, especially in the area of comfort, like having air conditioning, more space, and perhaps even security while driving. Sometimes, because of budget constraints or depending on the city, owning a car is not the best option. Even so, when you are on a tight schedule, traveling by anything other than your own car can be exasperating.

One of the disadvantages of taking the bus is waiting. Sometimes the bus takes time to arrive – and In today’s world, time is gold; there’s never time to lose. In some cities, buses with GPS are making life easier for passengers. Students of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock can now save some time by knowing exactly when the trolley is coming, thanks to GPS. How? Easy: by downloading a free app by Ride Systems for iPhone or Android. Text can be used for other phones, too.

This is how it works: every trolley has its own ID, students text the ID of the trolley they’re waiting for, and voila, they get the time of arrival to their stop. This is possible thanks to the GPS tracking device that is keeping tabs on every bus. Now it is easy to know where a bus is and how long it will take to get to the next stop. There’s no more guessing or hoping the trolley is near. With this technology, students can manage their time better.

Without a doubt, soon this method of tracking will spread to other cities. Maybe in the near future this technology will be a part of everyday life, especially with the popularity of smartphones. GPS tracking technology continues to help all of us live lives in a more efficient way.

Public Transportation in India About to Gain Efficiency from GPS

June 17th, 2012

In India, public transportation is absolutely vital. The nation is, in many areas, extremely dense in terms of population. Owning an automobile is not as prevalent, or as practical, as it is in the United States. The Andhra Pradesh Road Transport Corporation is largely responsible for managing public bus transportation in India. The corporation has recently announced big improvements that citizens of India may hope to enjoy in the near future.

The addition of air conditioning to many of its bus units will be a welcome addition. Added travel to the important and growing city of Tirumala, a popular site of pilgrimage for Hindus, will be additionally wrlcome. Key to Andhra Pradesh Road Transport Corporation’s efficiency and success in the future, however, may be the integration of GPS functionality in a large portion of its fleet.

Basic Fleet Management Benefits
To any bus fleet, fleet management utilizing GPS has tremendous advantages. GPS devices are installed on vehicles and provide extremely accurate data in terms of speed and vehicle performance. When proper monitoring software and personnel are in place, notifications may be sent out when busses are speeding, braking excessively, etc. By monitoring the handling of these vehicles, maintenance costs may be lowered marginally. The benefit is more present over time, as the length of service of these vehicles are increased. The benefits in emergency situations are apparent as well: accidents, mechanical breakdowns and more may all be monitored with pinpoint precision.

Basic Fleet Management Problems
Unfortunately, the GPS revolution in terms of fleet management has had some highly publicized speed bumps, mostly due to corporate corruption. Several fleets have been scammed into installing nonfunctional GPS devices. Companies were paying good money for GPS systems that just didn’t work, and then were sacked with the bill. The functionality of GPS devices and the quality of their upkeep is absolutely critical in order to utilize these devices to maximum effectiveness.

A Promising Future for India
As India becomes progressively more affluent, citizens may be pleased as creature comforts such as air conditioning are added to public transportation. Bus fleet managers, however, may be extremely pleased as GPS fleet management makes the fleet last longer, run more efficiently and, in the long run, saves money for the company which utilizes those services.

San Francisco’s MetroLink To Be Fitted With GPS Tracking

May 4th, 2012

Public transit systems all over the world are learning the benefits of GPS tracking. City bus networks, in particular, become much more useful when dispatchers and customers alike can view the real-time location of buses and make plans accordingly. In San Francisco, a different kind of public transit system is about to become GPS-enabled: the MetroLink train system.

At first glance, a rail system doesn’t seem like an ideal candidate for installation of expensive GPS tracking devices. Routes are already established; train speed is relatively constant; and passengers rarely have the option to take a different train if the one they are waiting for is running late. There are, however, a few important advantages that GPS tracking will provide for the MetroLink system.

The primary goal, and the driving consideration behind this particular system, is safety in the case of malfunctions or mistakes. The funding process for San Francisco’s new train GPS system began after a 2008 collision took the lives of 25 people. The engineer failed to follow instructions to stop and drove the train into a freight train. The new GPS system would use tracking technology to automatically force trains to stop or slow when needed in the case of human failure. Other critical mistakes, such as diverting a train onto the wrong track, would be immediately detected by GPS trackers and allow for correction before a catastrophe occurs.

Real-time tracking of train punctuality will also be a benefit of the system, although not to the same extent as with a city bus network. Safety is the main purpose for the installation, and it actually includes plans for lower-tech features like fences to keep cars and people off train rails at critical points.

The complete outfitting of MetroLink trains with GPS devices and installing the associated equipment will cost over $200 million. A recent grant from the California Department of Transportation brings MetroLink much closer to their funding goal, and the system should be in place and operational by sometime next year.

Similar rail systems across the nation will quickly follow San Francisco’s example; recent federal legislation requires all commuter rail systems to incorporate GPS safety measures by the year 2015. All eyes will be on the San Francisco trains in 2013 to find out just what to expect when GPS hits the rails.